Everybody has dreamed of a perfect Valentine's date – either in a romantic location like a cruise ship with just you and your partner, or a garden filled with your favorite flowers and a 5-star dinner. However, some couples are way too busy to prepare for February 14, and there are also those who are spending their Valentine's without a partner. Wherever you lie in the single/taken spectrum, here are some ideas you can pick up for the upcoming Day of Love.
1. For Any Couple: Memory Presentation
Nothing beats seeing in pictures the months or years you've spent as a couple. Your first kiss, your first flight out of town, your first snow together, your most memorable embarrassing moments – or even your pettiest fights – can all but bring some laughing gas into your conversations.
Have them on print and hang them up a wire or a string dangling from your ceiling. You can also attach your pictures to helium filled balloons and fill a room with them, then have your partner blindfolded to add to the excitement! This will sure be a core memory for you and your partner to share and savor.
2. For Married Couples: Renew Your Vows
A rather touching and heartfelt move, you can ask your partner to redo your wedding vows be it formally or not. You can take a trip down memory lane and revisit the church you got married in or the place you both first met.
Whatever landmark or venue that has a significance in your being together, take some time to drop by and revisit the memories you made with your partner of how many years, and renew your vows to remind them how much you love them.
3. For Parents: Costume Party at Home
If you're tired of going on dates every year, then you can bring your kids along and make it about them instead: by doing a costume party! You can let your kids put on make up, wear silly masks, don colorful capes, and just have tons of fun with their parents on the 14th. Why wait for your kids' friends' birthday parties when you can do your own party at home, and have the most wonderful time with your children?
While you're at it, you can take it up a notch and invite other people over to celebrate with your kids — assuming that everyone in your neighborhood isn't too busy with their own Valentine's celebrations. Otherwise, just enjoy the company of your partner and your kids running around your house with their favorite costumes on.
4. For Children Surprising Their Parents: Whip Up A Tasty Meal
If your parents aren't ones to celebrate Valentine's Day but you'd like to switch things up for them for once, then you can start by flipping through your mom's old cookbooks (or just steal a quick recipe from TikTok) and cook your parents a meal they can share over a candlelit dinner on Valentine's Day.
You can be extra and order some flowers, decorations, or even a live orchestra if you want to go all out. As long as it comes from the heart, then you should be good. And there's absolutely no need to be a chef, but if you can hire one for your parents, then that would even be better!
5. For Single Women: Galentine's Day
Crack open your favorite bottle of champagne, put on your sexiest dress, and go out with your friends – to a concert, to the club, or a big Valentine's event you and your friends decide to crash last minute. But if you're more reserved and introverted, then you can just stay in and have a cook-off or bake-off with your girlfriends.
Whether you're fresh from a breakup or just committing to a season of singlehood, make Galentine's Day extra special and even memorable with your single friends and choose the activities you'll all love – be it karaoke, bar hopping, roller skating, or enrolling in a painting class – and maybe even become a yearly tradition until you and your friends get married one by one.
6. For Single Men: Game Night
It's not just single girls who can enjoy Valentine's Day with their friends! Boys can have a fun game night with all their favorite video games. You can make it a potluck celebration too and have your best buds bring over some chips, popcorn, candy, and booze and chasers. Dust off your projector and you can also have a movie night too after you're tired of abusing the buttons on your gaming consoles.
If you and your friends are tired of staying in, then you can hit the bars in your town or go on a road trip going anywhere the wheels take you. If you happen to be fitness enthusiasts but don't want to hit the gym during this time, then a game of basketball or any sport of your choice will do too.
7. For Those Looking For A Date: Go!
That Bumble date you've always had your eye on? Your co-worker that you have a ridiculous amount of chemistry with? Or that hometown friend you've never forgotten no matter how hard you tried? Go for it! Make the first move and take them on a Valentine's date.
And while shooting your shot may put you at risk of rejection, it's the effort that matters. If it doesn't work out with your first choice of date, then you can always explore and find somebody better. Don't be hung up in your room all day over an ex or a potential love — put yourself out there and possibly spark a new flame.
8. For Those Who Want To Spend Valentine's Alone: Do Your Favorite Activity
Whether it's pamper day at your favorite beauty clinic or sightseeing by the countryside or the beach, spending Valentine's Day alone is not awful or lonely as long as you're enjoying yourself – you should feel complete and adequate just on your own whether it's Valentine's Day or not.
Especially for those who like their own space, it must feel good to not always need people around you. Shopping alone, traveling alone, eating alone — why shouldn't you like your own company? You're in control of everything! Now go out there and take yourself on a date!